mashomack preserve

charisma2015

Wonderful day on Shelter Island. We were camping in Hither Hills; drove to the ferry. We took the ferry over with bikes in tow. Biked to Mashomack Preserve and enjoyed a lovely 6-mile hike around the preserve. Beautiful scenery, tranquil and interesting. The personnel were very helpful and friendly. Afterward, we biked all over the island - beautiful, stunning place. Highly recommend a visit and exploration of this very unique and lovely island.

Zoet2015

The Preserve is set up in such a way that you can basically get lost in nature and forget what's going on around in the planet. There's so much info provided by signs and stops on the trails and animals are seriously friendly. Within a few hours you can learn so much and see wild life and at the same time enjoy the beach, the cool breeze just makes walking even better and time just passes you by. I wish I could go back and take more pictures and film more and i would most definitively spend more time there. Good job! I would love to even work there, it feels like stepping into heaven some how.

ArtScout

Perfect for cross country skiing, as well as hiking. There are a few options for hikes, shorter and longer (9 miles). Unfortunately, no bikes and no dogs allowed.

KenTheTraveler2014

Spent 3 hours at the Preserve. Trails are very well maintained and marked. Didn't see a single piece of trash. This was mid October so the colors were just starting to pop. The Great Meadow was beautiful. We felt this was "the" thing to do on the island. Be warned, closed on Tuesday.

JaneBond111

Great hikes, 3-10 miles for every fitness level. Knowledgable staff who really love explaining all that nature has to offer at this wonderful preserve.

177johnw

Wonderful nature preserve offering various hikes through peaceful, serene woods. Beautiful views and good bird watching. Great for letting the kids run - just slather them with DEET first!

Janet11238

How cool is it that one-third of Shelter Island is a nature preserve! Easy trails with big payoff. Great bird watching. Delightful way to spend a morning or even a whole day.

Tom71R60

It is a great place to take a walk and explore. Shelter Island is a beautifully low key, unhurried place, and this preserve was even more peaceful.

BarbaraL411

There's a trail for everyone at Mashomack Preserve. They're clearly marked, and you can decide along the way if you're up for a longer hike or just take your original path back to the main area. My daughter and I did the longest hike, which will bring you to the Gardiner's Bay. You can see the Cedar Point Lighthouse from this trail. Bring bug spray, water, and wear your most comfortable shoes. It is peaceful, beautiful and and the best example of the beauty of the East End. For a shorter walk, try the Elizabeth Morton Preserve on Noyac Rd, in Noyac.

joec117

Nice park to drive or walk through.You may see some interesting animals as you walk around.Nice change of pace from the beach and peaceful..

CAO111

Beautiful preserve! My husband and I explored 3 of the different trails on 8/4/14. We stumbled upon a young couple sitting on a bench with a gorgeous view of the water behind them. The boyfriend asked if I would take a picture of them. It then turned into an obviously planned marriage proposal. He told her how much he loved her and got down on one knee and asked her to marry him! It was a wonderful heartwarming experience for all of us!!

Flipflops94

You can't go to SI and not do this. Took a leisurely 7 mile hike over the course of 3 hours. It was more like a stroll though to be honest! Took time for taking pictures and to sit, reflect and take in the view. Saw a deer, egrets, turtles, chipmunks, blue heron, osprey and comnorants!

marcelonyc

I visited the place with my wife and it was a great experience. At the visitors center they have a small museum where you can see some of the species in the area and maps of the preserve.There are some tracks you can hike with the help of a map, it is a great place to watch and photograph different kind of birds.Bring insect repellent and water with you.

gezette

Wonderful hiking trails...bring plenty of water and binoculars for bird watching. Go early to stay cool and bring bug spray.Staff have trail maps.

jonathans701

The Mashomack Preserve is probably my favorite part of Shelter Island. Nearly a third of the island is covered by the beautiful nature preserve. There are a series of well marked trails for hiking, with a great map, friendly volunteers, and a nice visitor's center. We walked the second longest of the trails, which was a beautiful six miles through a variety of terrains.Can't recommend this enough - fantastic bit of nature on Shelter Island.